Get your own sign in London Underground Johnston

Hibernacula is a pop up art gallery featuring photographs, prints, poetry and fine art by some of East London finest artists. You can find them at an old office beside Leytonstone London Underground station. One of the artist who is exhibiting there is Russell Frost of Hooksmith Press. Originally from New Zeland, Russell has a small selection of his Letterpress prints on display as well as a working vintage letter press and London Underground's famous Johnston typeface press blocks. Up till 26 February, you can have anything you like set in arguably one of the world's famous typeface. So, what are you waiting for? Go.

New Look For Longer challenge

Well, well, well, I have just received a teaser for CBS Outdoor's new #Lookforlonger challenge. Yeees! If the comments on my previous coverage about the first campaign is of any indication, I am sure many of you will be just as excited as I am about this brain teaser sequel (I know I will!).

Watch out for more info at the Look For Longer website on 19 September.

CBS Outdoor's new London Underground game: 150 Brands

Londoners will know how waiting for their Tube train even for two minutes can lead to utter boredom (such is the fast paced lifestyle we've adopted here), so anything to distract or engage our brains is always welcomed.

So when ad agency CBS Outdoor UK launched the Look for Longer game last year, we all lapped it up. The game, based on cryptic visual clues, was brilliant, addictive and engaging - everything an advertising campaign should be about.

Now CBS Outdoor has launched a follow up game called 150 Brands. It may not be brain teasing Look for Longerer, but after spending a brief time on the game testing my pop culture knowledge on brands, I can honestly say it's a worthy follow up. Just as long as you don't cheat.

Much like the previous game, 150 Brands game will be a cross-platform campaign, featuring heavily on the Tube network as well as the internet. Launched to celebrate 150 years of advertising on the London Underground, the game aims to engage Londoners at guessing the brands based on both products snapshots and strapline-based clues such as 'Never Knowingly Undersold' and 'Think Different'.

Players interested in entering can do so at 150brands.co.uk. Prizes includes to up to a year's worth of free travel, so how about that?

Oyster card travesty

Last week we found over selves heading to London Euston on the London Overground network, with Oyster cards as our ticketing method. On arriving at Euston we found that our Midland train has docked onto one of those platforms with nary a Oyster card reader or even ticket gates. Annoyingly we were forced to find another platform with ticket gates in order to validate the journey, lest we get charged the maximum £5.50 per journey with no daily journey caps.

The staffers there were well aware of the issue but they just shrugged while helpfully touching-out our cards. I wonder how many people unintentionally paid more than they were supposed to due the lack of signage and campaign by TfL. You may be able to scam them tourists, but not us.

Last ever Circle Line Party 2008

Our last ever Circle Line party was brief, but fun. Pictures from mobile cam, so don't expect anything awesome. We joined the party at Gloucester Road after sending off my family at Heathrow. A tiny section of revellers were acting a bit twattish (tearing down stuff, abusing staffers and drivers - shame on you lot!), but the majority were just brilliant - having a drink, chatting and singing away.

It was a very international party, with plenty of party goers from America, Sweden, Germany, Canada etc., proving yet again how culturally vibrant this great city is, despite having a retarded Tory as a Mayor. The Tube staffers were bloody friendly and understanding, though a couple of stations had to be shut down due to 'overcrowding'.












More pictures here of the last ever day where it is legal to drink on the Tube, from Underground guru Annie Mole.

Circle Line Party reminder

This is a reminder post for tonight's Circle Line Party. Barring any last minute changes, we will definitely be there tonight. We will either be departing from Liverpool Station or Bayswater. Check my twitter for possible updates from the field. Hopefully we will do a full circle.

Also head to Oriental City for lunch. It deserves the send-off.

Note: this is a scheduled post.

Last ever Circle Line party

The last ever Circle Line party, until Boris Johnson is voted out, will be held this coming 31st May. It will mark the end of boozing on the Tube when the no alcohol ban comes into force the following day. Rather coincidentally we will be in Central London on that very day on a completely unrelated matter and residing close to a Circle Line station. Chances are we will be attending, and we will be bringing over plenty of stuff. Sorry Boris, you won't be stopping us having one last hurrah. Some etiquette lessons for those who never attended a Circle Line party before. Be nice to your fellow commuters. Many will be extremely supportive - even joining in on the party. Party only when the train hits the tunnels. Most important of all, enjoy yourself. Hope to see you there.

Inspired by the SpaceHijackers, the party is being organised by numerous groups and will begin from 9pm at Liverpool Street Station clockwise platform (eastbound). More info on the various parties here.

Boris says no to booze (on Tube)

From next month drinking (and possibly carrying - the policy seems vagued) alcohol on London's public transport network will be banned. While I tend to dislike binge drinkers, mainly because they tend to puke all over the place - I have yet to be bothered by them. And that's from someone who regularly rides on the Tube late at night or makes use of those 24 hour night buses - which I am 99% certain the Mayor probably does not.

I have seen plenty of perfectly sober people dressed in Gucci loafers causing more trouble than drunken louts. These are of course merely anecdotal evidence, so take that with a tiny pinch of salt if you rather - though I am sure I have used the Tube far more than Boris and his team of advisers. Just that now future Circle Line parties and the next four years of New Year's Eve tube rides will boring events. And summer's just around the cornet too - imagine that, no cold lager to cool you off. But I guess people itching for a drink should just drive seeing how social drinkers are now discouraged from taking public transportations...

So this is the first gimmicky, reactionary and populist policy passed by the new Mayor. Fact is enforcing this will be a nightmare and the majority of TfL's staffers will likely to just ignore harmless offenders. And I am not so sure the police would want to waste their time chucking innocent offenders into jails for having a casual drink, especially when they and SO13 can have fun participating in gun battles with lawyers. (Yes I am aware of the irony)

Also lol at the media seemingly treating Tuesday's shooting as bizarre. It's like they are implying that these kinds of things only happens to the less wealthy...

Picture by tompagenet's on Flickr

Slightly less racy Nip/Tuck ad now approved for London commuters

The Nip/Tuck ad, previously deemed too racy for London commuters has finally received a photoshop makeover. So how did this ad made it on TfL's approved list when the previous failed? For one the sexy lady on the left now has longer stockings. And the blonde on the right had her bra swapped for an ugly red top. Sad isn't it?

Via London Underground blog

Nip/Tuck ad too racy for London commuters

As a perfect example that the UK is slowly but inevitably trasforming itself into a bleak version of prudish Americana, this relatively lame and restrained advertising campaign for Nip/Tuck has apparently been banned from going up around TfL's London Underground advertising slots. This follows the banning of the Fat Christ promotion, which features a man in pink boxer shorts being crucified. Sad. But at least this news does remind me that I really ought to catch up with season four, considering that season five is almost upon us.

Anyway does Julian McMahon look haggard in that poster or what? Time for another botox shot Dr. Troy.

Brilliant scheme, will abuse it

From 14 February, directional markings will be installed in several Jubilee Line platforms. These are designed to encourage Tube passengers to allow fellow travellers off the trains first before boarding. Makes sense and thereotically it is a simple yet brilliant idea. Even better for people like me whose journeys includes guessing where train doors will be when they stop at the platform by looking for signs of wear and tear on the yellow line, this scheme will be a boon to those who are keen to stay a step ahead - if only to get a seat in our cattle carriages.

via London Underground blog

Confuse London tourists with this...

...alternative tube poster by Haberly Mead, who decided to spend a day whipping up this anagrammed version to the classic Tube map. Print some and distribute them to unsuspecting tourists. Download it before the irrational lawyers of Transport of London flex their muscle.

Sorry, slow news day.

Preview of new Tube map

Via London Underground blog, a preview of the new Tube map by Transport for London has been making its way around the web. At first glance it is clear that the new map is definitely more busy and far more complex than the previous map. The most relevant inclusion is obviously the new Heathrow Terminal 5 station, signalling the end to the Heathrow loop.


The most significant addition to the new map however are the new London Overland service specifically Watford Junction to Euston, Richmond to North Woolwich, Gospel Oak to Barking and Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction. This former Silverlink metro services (bye bye, London won't miss ya!) will be managed by TfL and MTR Laing from 11 November when Oystercards will become valid on these lines. Joining the service in 2010 will be the East London line. Future plans includes reintegrating the Watford DC service back into the Bakerloo Line with six or seven car trains.

Personally I find the (current) new map to be overcomplicated. The integration between London Underground and Overground is almost none-existent with minimal interchanges that I believe the old London National Rail maps should be sufficient enough. Also I find the disability access signs as detrimental to the aesthetic quality of the map. I believe that such informations would be better served on alternative specialised maps. It seems to me that TfL is reversing all the things we loved about the Tube Map that Harry Beck has given us. But it is still the best metro map in the world.

Hellgate London: Tube Tours

Hellgate: London is one of my most anticipated video games ever since I found out how accurate London would be represented in the game, particularly the London Underground. The developers, Flagship Studios (of Diablo fame) has recently released a bunch of videos titled the "Hellgate London: Tube Tours".



First up is Covent Garden station, which is the first 'hub' you will come across in the game. Hubs are like towns in normal RPGs where you can rest, shop and receive quests. As a person who frequently shops at Covent Garden I can attest to the accuracy of polygon'ed Covent Garden tube station and its surrounding areas (e.g. Covent Garden Market, British Museum) is bloody accurate (minus the wondering demons). Other places to visit includes Bloomsbury and hopefully Soho.



The next video introduces us to Charing Cross. Charing Cross is officially known as the centre part of London since the early 19th century. The station here would be the third stop in the game, and like Covent Garden, it acts as a hub that allows the gamer to replenish his or her supplies. However while Covent Garden is well protected, Charing Cross apparently is well within the edge of the danger zone where places like Piccadilly Circus and probably Soho has since fallen to demon control.


A pretty accurate 1992 Central Line stock

So there you go. Other locations confirmed to appear includes the Tower of London and the swaying Millennium Bridge. Graphics aren't that impressive but I could easily overlook it as the visual style is fantastic. At least it gives my two year graphic card a chance. Combined with the talented developers who made Diablo and our favourite London Underground, this should be a game to get next month.

Tube strike suckage

Due to the collapse of Metronet, possibly the least efficient contractor ever, a 72 hour strike will affect the Tube from tomorrow 6pm BST. It willl last until Thursday 6pm.

It sucks that Londoners would have to pay for this.

Before & After

How long do you think the newly replaced (cleaned?) upholstery on the left would take before it resembles the "normal" one on the right?